Compare towns
Sandgate vs Strafford vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Arlington has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sandgate | Strafford | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
1,372 |
2,598Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
| Sandgate and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$102,308±$11k 26% above VT |
| Strafford and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
| Arlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 13% below VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #50 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Arlington School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Arlington Memorial |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.